On Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, Central Bucks East seniors Paige Keller & Audra Szymborski were recognized for committing to play collegiate field hockey.
Paige Keller – University of Connecticut (Field Hockey)
Major: Animal Science/Pre-Vet
Final list of colleges: UConn, Villanova, Drexel, Brown, Michigan State
Reasons for choosing UConn: “The combination of academics along with the team environment. Immediately when I stepped on campus, their team environment really
stood out to me and the way their coaches created that environment. Also, it was good for my major, a good distance from home and just everything I was looking for.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in field hockey at the collegiate level? “I think initially I wanted to play lacrosse in college, but upon playing field hockey here at East – just the environment this team created and how much fun I had here convinced me I wanted to play field hockey in college instead.”
Coach Emma Rosenthal says: “Paige is one of the best players to ever come through East’s field hockey program but probably ranks number one as the most humble, a quality that is something you can’t teach, something that you can’t coach but just who Paige is as a person. As a person, she has some of the best character of anybody I’ve ever coached. She’s been our assist leader the past two seasons, and she just always keeps her composure. Whenever Paige has the ball on the field, everybody stops playing and watches her. Paige makes everybody feel such a sense of calm. Off the field, she’s just an amazing friend and teammate. I can’t emphasize enough how proud I am of her and how much she’s done for this team and her teammates. They all look up to her. Congratulations, Paige. We are going to miss you.”
About Paige:
Favorite food: Caesar Salad
Favorite TV show: Grey’s Anatomy
Favorite artist: Zach Bryan
Audra Szymborski – Wingate University (Field Hockey)
Major: Nursing
Final list of colleges: Wingate, Queens (Charlotte), Lafayette, Fairfield, Middlebury
Reasons for choosing Wingate: “I really needed to focus on my major, and the thought of playing Division 1 hockey was great and all, but at the end of the day, I was
going for an education. Wingate is one of the schools that allows nursing and sports at the same time, and being able to play the sport I love for the next four years is an opportunity I was able to have.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in field hockey at the collegiate level? “When I started playing club when I was in sixth grade, everyone – all my sister’s friends – were going to these big schools, and I always wanted to do that. That was my goal since I was younger – I wanted to play in college. It came along that college was more about your education than actually playing a sport. I’m really happy I can do both.”
Coach Emma Rosenthal says: “Being a goalkeeper takes a lot of guts, and guts is something Audra has and embodies. She’s willing to do whatever for anyone off the field, but on the field, she’s willing to put her body on the line to stop a goal. Audra is one of the hardest working players on the team, and it has paid off. I’m so proud of her for being in this position - going to college and doing exactly what she wants to do – playing goalie. As a goalkeeper, if you make a mistake, it lights up on the scoreboard, and Audra puts that pressure on herself, which is something as a person – to put all that on herself, it just shows how much she cares about her team, about them as people and her passion for the sport. Congratulations, Audra, I am so very proud of you.”
About Audra:
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite movie: The Notebook
Favorite music: Alternative
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